The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is a government-owned energy system operator for Great Britain, designated as the Independent System Operator and Planner (ISOP) under the Energy Act 2023. NESO is the licensed electricity system operator and balances supply and demand in real time. It has strategic planning roles for electricity networks, and planning and forecasting roles for gas transmission systems.
NESO began operating on 1 October 2024 after the UK government acquired the electricity system operator division of National Grid plc for £630 million. As of December 2025, the chair is Dr Paul Golby and the chief executive is Fintan Slye.
Background
The electricity system operator function in Great Britain was historically performed within the National Grid group. In July 2021, the UK government and Ofgem consulted on proposals to create a new, impartial Future System Operator to support decarbonisation while maintaining security of supply and minimising costs for consumers. The consultation proposed that the new body should take on the main existing electricity system operator roles and should also have longer-term strategic planning and forecasting roles in gas.
Further policy consultation in 2023 described the Future System Operator as intended to be established in public ownership, with operational independence from day-to-day government control, and as a trusted body at the centre of the gas and electricity systems. In March 2024, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ofgem published a statutory consultation on licences and other regulatory changes for the National Energy System Operator. The consultation covered proposed electricity system operator and gas system planner licences and related changes to implement the new arrangements.